Making a phone spying tool because "It seemed challenging and fun." Bad idea.

Why are apps allowed to be silently installed and executed by just inserting an SD card?<p>I don't agree with the "Bad idea" label in the title. If it can be done, it will be done. Maybe black hats are already doing it? Bringing the knowledge to the public isn't a bad idea.<p>Edit: fix typo

Fucking good idea. That is awesome.<p>The directly linked post rather understates its claimed capabilities. Look at all the stuff this does: <a href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3977534" rel="nofollow">http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3977534</a><p>However, it's hard to get around the fact that if someone thinks you're spying on them, they can just look at their phone bill and see the text messages, which tells them all the commands you ever ran with this tool. EDIT: I might be partially wrong. You can set it up so that it communicates via polling an FTP server, instead of SMS.

Maybe using the software maliciously is a bad idea, but this seems to have exactly the same functionality as those programs people put on their laptops in case it gets stolen.

I used to be a little bit grey hat so maybe my perspective here is a little different. I see breaking security as just as much fun as building secure systems. And once you do it, why wouldn't you release the source to brag a little?

To take a perhaps unpopular stance:<p>There is this argument that people shouldn't do certain kinds of science for fear of what it could lead to. Don't turn on the LHC because it might make a black hole (science thoroughly disputed this before the LHC was even finished). Its ridiculous. Science and knowledge can lead to bombs, mind control, and death. Or, they can lead to space travel, better mental health, and longer life. Its all about the implementation of the knowledge.<p>The same argument needs to be made about software.

I can understand trying to write it. I can understand announcing that you succeeded. But releasing it crosses over the line in my opinion. I'm on my phone so the forum link isn't working. Did he actually release it?

Anyway this is an old idea. There are solutions like this available long time ago. This for example: <a href="http://mobile-spy.com/" rel="nofollow">http://mobile-spy.com/</a>

Hmm my sandboxed iPhone is looking better :)